Questions raised over Exmouth High Street funding bid

Questions have arisen over exactly what the status of Future High Street Funding for Exmouth of up to £20m is.

A media release issued by the Conservative Party earlier this week announced that Exmouth would receive funding to help secure up to £20 million pounds from the Government's new Future High Streets Fund.

Simon Jupp, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for East Devon, added when asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the announcement that he had contacted the Secretary of State and lobbied for Exmouth to be included in this fund, and that he agreed when they met last Friday.

However the news came as a surprise to East Devon District Council, with several senior councillors saying that nothing has yet been discussed about bidding for funding for Exmouth.

Councillor Susie Bond, deputy leader of the council, said: "There has been no communication from Government to the East Devon District Council about the Future High Streets Fund."

Fellow cabinet member Councillor Jess Bailey added: "It's incorrect to suggest Exmouth is "set to receive new funding". This has not even been discussed."

East Devon District Council had earlier this year submitted a bid for Axminster as part of the Future High Streets Fund, but had seen that rejected.

At the Cabinet meeting where the council decided to put forward Axminster over Cranbrook as their bid, there was no mention of a bid for Exmouth and no councillor spoke in favour of the seaside town.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who are responsible for administering the fund, have now told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that no funding has yet been officially awarded to Exmouth.

They said that due to electoral purdah – rules that restrict the actions of Governments during pre-election periods – they would be unable to make such an announcement, and that the next round of funding is not due to be announced until 2020 at the earliest.

But they added that while no money had been awarded to Exmouth, they understood that the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, Robert Jenrick, had suggested and encouraged a bid for Exmouth in the next round of funding.

When asked for clarification, a statement from the Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, said: "Simon has lobbied me for this funding over the last few weeks and secured the agreement last Friday. As part of the Conservative Party plan to regenerate our towns, I want to see Exmouth in the next set of communities benefiting from the Future High Street Fund which provides up to £20m to each successful community."

A statement from a Conservative Party spokesman added: "The new fund is clearly not closed and the Secretary of State has confirmed this by including Exmouth as per the statement from him directly, which was on the press release.

"The decision was made directly by the Secretary of State and confirmed last Friday. East Devon District Council will be notified in due course on the mechanics of the process."

The Future High Streets Fund can be used to improve transport and access into town centres, convert empty retail units into new homes and workplaces, and invest in vital infrastructure.

This is in addition to other business support, such as cutting business rates for high street shops and pubs.

If Exmouth is successful in its bid, the town will receive up to £150,000 to work on the development of detailed project proposals that can be submitted for capital funding.

That could then see up to £20m of funding awarded to the town.

The initial statement issued by the Conservative Party had started with the words: "Exmouth will receive new funding from the Government's new Future High Streets Fund.

"The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, Robert Jenrick, has confirmed that Exmouth will receive funding to help secure up to £20 million pounds from the Government's new Future High Streets Fund."

Mr Jenrick in the statement added: "It was great to spend time in East Devon talking to Simon Jupp about the opportunities to boost Exmouth's High Street. We know how important town centres are to communities and appreciate the pressure our high streets are under as consumer habits change and more people shop online.

"That's why we created the £1Bn Future High Streets Fund, to invest in better transport, culture, heritage and bringing more housing into town centres to help them adapt and evolve.

"I want Exmouth to benefit from that and be part of the next group of towns to receive up to £20m each. Simon and I will be working with the local community to prepare a plan and get that transformative investment flowing into the town as soon as next year."

Mr Jupp added: "I have spoken to many businesses in Exmouth about the opportunities for the town and it's time to work together to boost our High Street. I will work with residents, councils and business leaders to make sure we grasp this opportunity to deliver for Exmouth. Together, we can make East Devon an even better place to live and work."

Explaining how it came about that Exmouth secured the funding despite not initially been selected and submitted, Mr Jupp added: "I've been looking at the issues people have spoken to me on the doorstep. In Exmouth, empty shops kept coming up as people want to use the High Street but can't if the choice dwindles. It's the biggest town in East Devon and although we have a brilliant selection of shops, we also have many empty units."

When asked how Exmouth was selected for the funding given that Axminster had been put forward by East Devon District Council earlier in the year, Mr Jupp said: "I spoke with residents, businesses and members of the Chamber of Commerce and then contacted the Secretary of State and lobbied for Exmouth to be included in this fund. He agreed when we met last Friday.

"It gives Exmouth the opportunity to work up detailed proposals to put forward to Government and I'll work cross-party to get it right."

The announcement on Monday came on the same day that actor Hugh Grant visited Sidmouth and told members of the public to vote for Independent candidate Claire Wright.